Tuesday, February 05, 2008

CNN debates in Cincy? Don't bet the ranch

CNN is in the early planning stages of staging nationally-televised debates between the Democratic and Republican candidates for president somewhere in Ohio, once the traveling road show moves on to the Buckeye State.

Republican and Democratic party officials in Cincinnati are lobbying to have them here, as is Doug Moormann, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's vice president for government affairs.

February 27 and 28 are the most likely dates CNN is looking at for back-to-back debates, assuming that both parties' nominations are still up for grabs by then.

Moormann said that Cincinnati will take its best shot at landing the debates, but said he believes it is much more likely that Columbus or Cleveland will end up being the host city.

Two reasons for that, Moorman said:

First, CNN might be more likely to choose a venue smack in the middle of the state, and that means Columbus.

Secondly, Moormann said, he knows that the Ohio Republican Party chairman, Bob Bennett, who will be stepping down from that post after the primary, is pushing hard to hold the debates in his hometown of Cleveland.

CNN is working with the Ohio Democratic and Republican parties on a venue. The two local party chairmen, Tim Burke of the Democrats and George Vincent of the Republicans, are lobbying their respective state parties to steer the debates here.

Moormann said Cincinnati is offering various locations - one of the theaters at the University of Cincinnati, the Museum Center at Union Terminal, or the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

"The idea of Barack Obama, who could be the first black nominee, debating in the Freedom Center is pretty exciting,'' said Moormann. "It's off the charts."

Moormann and UC officials pushed last year to have one of the fall debates between the presidential nominees held in Cincinnati, but failed to convince the Presidential Debates Commission.

Anonymous, I have wondered the same thing. I don't know if this is true, but I've heard the opinion that one's appearance (ie skin color) trumps heritage in public perception. Also, I wonder to what extent this is a hold over from the 'one drop rule' (that a person with any trace of black ancestry cannot be considered white). I think it's a shame on many levels that Obama's true heritage is being (to at least some extent) ignored.

Unbelievable. Five of the first six comments are overly focused on one particular part of the article - race. Nevermind that the article is supposed to be about holding one of the debates here. Any chance people could actually comment on THAT instead??

I don't think the debates will be held in Cincinnati for the simple reason of it's political climate and geographic location. Columbus is the obvious choice, since that is the seat of Ohio government. It also should not be Cleveland because that would make it too biased toward the Repukeakins.

The "One Drop" is old school U.S. policy.In the 1950s South Africa's Population Registration Act defined a white person as one who "in appearance is obviously a white person who is generally not accepted as a colored person; or is generally accepted as a white person and is not in appearance obviously not a white person."

CEFinCincy, I was referring to what the article said about how the Repukeakins are trying to steer the decision toward Cleveland. If they have that much influence in determining where the debates are held, YES it would be biased toward a decision made by the Repukeakins.

And if you think the Democrats are the dumb ones, just take a look at what has happened to this country in the past 8 years. It was a Democrat that got this country fiscally strong, and in good standing with the rest of the world. Now look at us. Think before you speak next time.

Doesn't really matter where they have it, just get on with it so we can get a new Democrat in office as President so we can start to rebuild our image abroad and at home. It's truely shameful the way the many people in Cincinnati play to the race card, seriously, WHO CARES ABOUT RACE OTHER THAN RACIST. NOBODY!

Look people, even Fred Barnes, a good right-winger, just went on FoxNews, the right-wing propaganda leader, just pointed how so many more people are voting in Democratic primaries than Repugnicants even in red states.

Take a look for yourself.

This is going to be a total blowout year for the Repugnicants. 2006 was just Phase One.

Hopefully, President Clinton or Obama has the courage to stand up for what is right and appoint an AG who will close, padlock, and fumigate the Repugnicant party at the state, national, and local levels as a corrupt organization under the RICO statutes.

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